flattery

play

noun flat·tery \ ˈfla-tə-rē \

Definition of flattery

plural flatteries

1 a :the act or practice of flattering

She uses the art of flattery to her advantage.

b (1) :something that flatters

A compliment is flattery …
—Harry Shaw

(2) :insincere or excessive praise

He tried to win his teacher's favor with flattery.

2 obsolete :a pleasing self-deception

See flattery defined for English-language learners

See flattery defined for kids

Examples of flattery in a Sentence

He tried to win his teacher's favor with flattery.
a talk show host who is known for charming her guests with disingenuous flattery

Recent Examples of flattery from the Web

By showing that the Eastern half of the continent often acts on the same anxieties as the Western half (or indeed, the United States), Krastev makes clear just how much self-flattery is involved in that assumption.

— yascha mounk, New Republic, "What the rise of populist movements means for democracy.," 19 July 2017
Before her nuanced, deeply moving performance, plus-size people were just the butt of the joke: unlovable slapstick vehicles designed to shower the lithe protagonist with praise and flattery.

— christopher rosa, Glamour, "Chrissy Metz's Emmy Nomination Is a Win for More Than Just TV," 13 July 2017
While the gesture might have been seen as a sign of flattery, the price tag certainly gave Nicki pause; the wigs were selling for a total of $3,850.

— de elizabeth, Allure, "Nicki Minaj Calls Out Company Selling Wigs Inspired by Her Hairstyles," 13 July 2017
All that flattery out of the way….you know where Wimbledon could use a serious upgrade?

— jon wertheim, SI.com, "Wimbledon is truly a treasure, but its classic strawberries and cream snack is not," 13 July 2017
But for Pence, such flattery has come to define his persona.

— noah bierman, chicagotribune.com, "Vice President Mike Pence's loyalty to Trump could come at a cost," 3 July 2017
Pay that homage to the roots, but again, the best compliment and best form of flattery is imitation.

— carl lamarre, Billboard, "Damian Marley Talks New Album 'Stony Hill,' Fatherhood & Possibly Teaming Up With Nas for Another Project," 13 June 2017
In Washington, Trump has alternated between bellicosity and flattery in his public statements about North Korea, but his administration is still working to solidify a policy to handle its nuclear ambitions.

— hyung-jin kim, The Seattle Times, "NKorean missile launch may be testing rivals, not technology," 29 May 2017
In both countries, where the hosts showered Trump with flattery and warmth, Trump played the role of gracious guest.

— jeremy diamond, CNN, "Trump's 1st foreign trip: 5 takeaways," 27 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flattery.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of flattery

see ¹flatter

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

flattery Synonyms

Synonyms

adulation, blarney, butter, flannel [British], incense, overpraise, soft soap, sweet talk, taffy

Related Words

allurements, blandishments, endearments; caresses, compliments, congratulations, felicitations, greetings, regards, respects; adoration, idolatry, worship; fawning, sycophancy, toadying; cajolement, cajolery, ingratiation, smarm; acclaim, applause, commendation, praise

Near Antonyms

bad-mouthing, belittlement, depreciation, detraction, disparagement, put-down

FLATTERY Defined for English Language Learners

flattery

play

noun

Definition of flattery for English Language Learners

: praise that is not sincere

FLATTERY Defined for Kids

flattery

play

noun flat·tery \ ˈfla-tə-rē \

Definition of flattery for Students

plural flatteries

:praise that is not deserved or meant

Learn More about flattery

See words that rhyme with flattery Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for flattery Spanish Central: Translation of flattery Nglish: Translation of flattery for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of flattery for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up flattery? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

flattery

Definition of flattery

Explore Merriam-Webster

Examples of flattery in a Sentence

Recent Examples of flattery from the Web

Origin and Etymology of flattery

flattery Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Phrases Related to FLATTERY

Related Phrases

FLATTERY Defined for English Language Learners

flattery

Definition of flattery for English Language Learners

FLATTERY Defined for Kids

flattery

Definition of flattery for Students

Learn More about flattery

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

The Ambiguity of Pushing 'Up' and 'Back'

Trending: Ivanka: "An 'Otherwise' Incredible Day"

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

Words of the Year: 1066